Gibbs: Bernanke will win a second term

Countering reports that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's confirmation is in trouble, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs and several Senate leaders predicted on Sunday that Bernanke will win a second term.

"Chairman Bernanke has done an excellent job responding to one of the most significant financial crises our country has ever encountered," the joint statement read. "We support his nomination because he is the right leader to guide the Federal Reserve in this recovering economy. Based on our discussions with our colleagues, we are very confident that Chairman Bernanke will win confirmation by the Senate for a second term."

Gibbs made reference to the statement when asked about Bernanke on Fox News Sunday.

"I think you saw the ... statement from Judd Gregg, a Republican, and Chris Dodd, a Democrat, working together in bipartisan fashion to ensure stability in our financial system, by approving Ben Bernanke for a second term," Gibbs said. "We believe he will be confirmed. I hope that you'll ask Sen. Cornyn and others in later segments to come out and support some of that stability in our financial system by ensuring the renomination of the Fed chairman."

Gibbs was referring to Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who later in the program said he would vote 'no' on Bernanke.

Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., on CBS' Face the Nation, said he would vote for Bernanke -- despite some "unanswered questions" and "misgivings."

"We will need Republican support to make certain that we pass the cloture vote, which is a 60-vote requirement when it's taken up this next week," Durbin said. "I think that we're going to have the votes to make sure that he is reconfirmed as chairman of the Federal Reserve."

The Democrats control 60 votes in the Senate -- at least until Sen.-elect Scott Brown, R-Mass., is seated.

Updated at 2:59 p.m. ET. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., stepped up his criticism of Bernanke and his Democratic allies. He put out a statement today saying the "Democrats and President Obama are putting their credibility on the line" if they support Bernanke for a second term.

"The issue for Democrats is whether they will allow Republicans to pretend to be the populist, anti-Wall Street party, or whether they will have the courage to stand up to Wall Street and bring in a Fed chairman who will represent the needs of working families rather than huge financial institutions," Sanders said.

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About Catalina Camia

Catalina Camia leads the OnPolitics online community and has been at USA TODAY since 2005. She has been a reporter or editor covering politics and Congress for two decades, including stints at The Dallas Morning News and Congressional Quarterly. Follow her at @USATOnPolitics.